How Much Does a Home Movie Theater Cost? Deciding to buy a Home Theater
The first question that comes to mind is: how much does a home movie theater cost? The cost of a home movie theater can vary among many factors. One of those factors is of course your budget. Your budget can greatly impact the quality of your home theater setup. However, you can still find alternatives that will give you what you want. The first thing you have to look at is the brand. What type of brand do you want? Although you will find many popular brands in the market, it’s ideal that you choose one that is known for having great products. Remember to look at reliability, longevity, functionality and durability, just to mention a few. You can gauge these products simply by browsing for customer reviews. Now, let’s go over the main components for your home theater.
Televisions, Projectors and Screens
When it comes to building your home movie theater system, the television or screen is the center of your setup. You’ll have the options of choosing a television screen or a projector, which is according to your preference. Nowadays, projectors have become quite affordable, so opting for a projector could be the way to go. A projector can be convenient because you can just point it at a white wall to show the picture. Moreover, you can also invest in a projector screen if you don’t want to use the wall. The specs for projectors can include 1,500, 2,500, 3,000 lumens and more. You can even find HD projectors as well. Televisions will come in a wider collection of high-definition options, such as 1080p, 4K or 8K. Your options can include:
• Samsung 55-inch UHD TV:
• Samsung 65-inch UHD TV:
• Toshiba 55-inch LED TV:
• LG Wireless Smart DLP Projector:
Audio Receivers and Speakers
Aside from your video, audio receivers are the most important parts to any home theater. Having a surround sound in your setup can bring any movie to life. Some of the well-known brands in audio will include Sony, Bose and many others. When it comes to investing in a surround sound system, it is ideal that you buy a packaged setup. Although you can buy the speakers and receivers separately, this would come out more expensive. Surround sound systems can come in a 5.1 digital channel option. This will include the five speakers and a subwoofer. The idea here is to literally surround yourself with the five speakers: two in the front, one in the center and two in the rear. This will give you that surround sound effect. If you don’t like to mess with a bunch of cables, you can also consider wireless speakers or sound bars. The prices can range from $349 to $1,000 and more.
back to menu ↑Cables and Components
If you buy everything in the box, a packaged home theater system will come with its own cables and components. However, you will be able to find other types of cables with better quality, such as Monster cables. These cables or connections can connect your video and audio components, such as your audio receivers and speakers. Optical cables are excellent options to get that digital sound for your speakers. You can also opt for the HDMI cable to give you both digital video and audio signals. These cables and components will usually include:
• HDMI cables
• Optical cables
• RCA standard connections
• Bluetooth adapters for wireless connectivity
Blu-ray Players
Although Blu-ray players have been around for quite sometime, it’s still considered the number one alternative if you like to have physical copies of your favorite movies. Blu-ray players are convenient because they can play both DVD and Blu-ray discs. Popular brands that you can consider will include Samsung, Sony, LG and other selections. The prices can start at $50 and can go up to $99. If you’re a gamer, you can consider a PS4 or an Xbox One, which will also be able to play Blu-ray discs. Although you can use standard RCA cables to connect the Blu-ray player, an HDMI cable will give you that high-definition resolution for your television.
back to menu ↑Going Digital
Many are choosing to go digital, which can be much more convenient and affordable. Since the new model TVs will come with smart features, such as internet capabilities, you will be able to stream live TV shows, movies and more. However, this technology can be limited when it comes to the high-definition picture resolution. Remember that you have to subscribe to streaming services to get access to TV shows and movies. You’ll also need to connect to the internet to get your services. Internet access alone can cost you around $50 for a decent speed. The streaming devices themselves will run you around $50 as well. Here are some options:
• Apple TV 4K:
• Roku Streaming Stick:
• Amazon 4K Fire Stick:
• Rocketfish Streaming Media Player:
Installing Your Home Movie Theater
As you’re ready to make your selection, remember that you will have to set up the entire home theater system. This will include the television, speakers and receivers. Although it may not sound like much, rest assured that it can be a complicated process. It is always ideal to hire professional technicians who are trained at installing home theater systems. If you have a TV that needs to be mounted, you’ll need to make sure that there is a stud in place or anchors to support the weight of the television. Prices for a complete home theater installation can range from $150 to $800 and more, depending on what you need done. This will include running cables through the attic, mounting the television, speakers and connecting the cables to their proper inputs.
back to menu ↑The Overall Budget
How much does a home movie theater cost? Well, hopefully this article has given you an idea. In the end, your home theater can go up to $1,000 or more, which will depend on your investments. You can opt for a simple setup that includes your television and audio speakers for about $700. However, you can’t forget the installation. If you really want to go all out for your home theater setup, you can expect to invest around $2,000, including installation. Whichever route you decide to take, remember to always go for the quality selections in both video and audio. By doing this, you are sure to enjoy your new home theater for many years.
